Uncle Phil Maloof

°°°°°Cultivating the Best of the Classics

The Artists

No detail of craftsmanship is left untouched from the fine woodwork throughout the rooms to the many intricately grooved Egyptian throne chairs placed about. Woodwork of solid Brazilian cherry, milled on site, constructs a nautical bar which even has the authentic porthole covers from the PT-73 boat of "McHale's Navy" along with the ship's telegraph used by Universal Studio's "Titanic". Much thought and care has gone into the display of such an eclectic collection so as not to take away from the presence of each to its own.

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One thing to mention is that Rebecca Conway added an effect to the rooms which display these remarkable planes. She painted the dome ceiling as a mural of clouded sky encircling the organ, which she modeled whipping the air it feels as if you are really after the movie "Fantasia". When the lights are dimmed it sparkles a network of fiber optics that appears as twinkling stars. You can actually hear thunder and see the lightening crackle and with the added sounds of the planes and propellers headed for a storm.

Giant model planes, with wing spans of up to 26 ft, can also be seen that hang from the ceiling of the music rooms with operating gear and propellers that kick up a gust of wind designed to synchronize with the organ. Some of the many planes on display include the models of Air Force One, Enola Gay (the plane that dropped the first atomic bomb), a B36 and C47 also a China Clipper.

Another plane of notoriety is a replica of the B-17 Memphis Belle (the first bomber to complete 25 missions over Germany during World War II). On May 26, 2001 a party was held at the Maloof Estate as a grand opening in commemoration to the pilots who flew during World War II. Among the many celebrities in attendance that night,

Coronal Robert Morgan, who was the original pilot of the Memphis Belle, I came to be part of the celebration.